Oscae gassett



, (No Model.)

v 0. GASSETT. ELEGTRO PNEUMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 276,021 Patent-ed Apr. 17,1883.

N. 'PETERS, Phowmm nwur. Washington. 0. c.

- UNITED STATES ATENT OSCAR GASSEIT, OF BOSTON, MASS., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SVVITOH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, OONN., AND PITTSBURG, PA.

ELECTRO-PNEUMATIC RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,021, dated April 1'7, 1883,

Application filed February 1,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR GAssE'lT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Suflolk and State of Massa- 5 chusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro Pneumatic' Railway-Signals, of which the following is aspecification.

' My invention relates to that class of alarms lo and signals which are employed in connection with railways, and are designed to be auto-' matically actuated by a moving train.

The general object of my invention is to cause an alarm to be sounded at any designated point--such as a stationor highwaycrossing-upon the approach of a railway-train, and to continue the operation of the same until the traiu, in its progress, has passed the point where the apparatus is situated, and

which it is designed to guard, after which the operation of the alarm will be discontinued.

The invention further has for its object the exhibition of a visual signal at some convenient point near the railway, a short distance in advance of the position occupied by the tram at the moment when the alarm should commence to be sounded, which signal will he maintained automatically in a position indicating danger, except at such times as the alarm is in operation, whereby in case said alarm fails to sound properly after the train has reached the proper point its further progress inthe direction of the crossing will be arrested" by the non-withdrawal of the dangersignal, while, on the other hand, it the alarm 18 performing its office properly the dangersignal will be withdrawn and a safety-signal exhibited, thus permitting the train to proceed on its way.

v To this end my invention consists in the combination of a bell or gong, a hammer or striker for sounding the same, a motor consisting of a piston moved to and fro within a cylinder by the force of compressed air or 4 5 other fluid under pressure for actuating said hammer, a valve for controlling the admission of air to the said motor, the movements of which are determined directly or indirectly by the action of an electro-magnet. The elec- 0 tro-mag-net itself is in turn controlled from a distance by means of an electric generator and a circuit-closer appertaining to a moving railway-train, whereby the action of the said generator upon the electro-magnet is determined.

The invention further consists in a secondary signal, preferably a visual signal, which is controlled by an independent electric circuit and circuit-closer attached to the alarm mechanism in such a manner that the said circuitcloser will be operated synchronously with the audible signal.

The invention further consists in certain combinations and details of mechanism, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 6 represents the essential portions of the alarm mechanism, its motor, and controlling apparatus, together with its attached circuit-closer for operating the secondary signal. Fig. 2 is atheoretical diagram, representing the general arrangement of the electric circuits with reference to the railway, and also their connec tion with the controlling electro-magnets of the signals; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of a portion of the mechanism, exhibiting cer 7 tain details not clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The several figures of the drawings are not designed to exhibit the several parts of the apparatus in their actual relative positions and dimensions, but the latter are so delineated that each may be clearly understood, and the intermediate steps by which the electric current is rendered available to control the movements of the bell-hammer and circuit-closer may be readily comprehended.

Referring to Fig. 1, M is isthe electromagnet which controls the alarm apparatus. When the alarm is in its normal condition-that is to say, silenta continuous current of electricity traverses the coils of the electro magnet M, 0 and maintains the same in a constantly-magnetio condition, thereby holding the armature R in contact with its poles, in opposition to the force of the retracting-spring S. Upon the opposite extremity of the armature-lever 5 R is a stop, P, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) against which rests a projecting stud, a, upon the back of one of the arms, A, of a four-armed escapement. A, A A and A represent the respective arms of the said escapement, the mo axis of which is connected with the plug of a stop-cock or valve, 0, and has also a pinion,

escapement-arm as the stop a.

K, mounted thereon. The stop-cock 0, escapement, and pinion K tend to revolve continuously in the direction indicated by the arrows, by reason of the force exerted by the descending weight W, operating through suit-- able intermediate mechanism--namely, the drum J, axis J, and toothed wheels K and K. This mechanism, however, is held in check so long as the current through the electro-magnet M remains uninterrupted by the stud a, which rests against the stop P on the armature-lever R. If now the electro-magnet M is demagnetized, it will release its armature R, and the opposite end of the lever B will consequently descend by the action of the spring S, carrying with it the stop P, and this movement will disengage said stop from the stud a upon the escapement-arm A, and allow the latter to pass freely over and beyond the former. The escapment arms and stopcock 0 are now free to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow by the action of the weight W and the intervening mechanism through one-fourth of a complete revolution. The projection a upon the arm A, which is placed upon the arm in such a position as to engage the stop 1?, provided the armature of the electro-magnet is released, now comes in contact with the said stop and arrests the revolution of the escapement. When the electromagnet is again rendered magnetic the stop P is caused to return to its original position, thus disengaging the arm A. The escapement now revolves through another one-fourth of a revolution, and is again arrested by the engagement of the stop P with the stud a which occupies the same relative position upon the As the path of the stop a is also coincident with that of the stop a", it will readily be understood that a movement of the armature-lever R, due either to the charging or discharging of the magnet M, will cause the plug of the stop-cock O to make one-fourth of a complete revolution. The position of the arms of the escapement with reference to the aperture N in the plug of the stop-cock O is such that when either of the arms A or A are arrested by the stop P the stop-cock is closed, while if either the arms A or A are arrested the stop-cock is open.

The valve or stop-cock O, which has been described, controls the admission of fluid under pressurefor example, compressed air which is contained in a suitable reservoir, V, through a pipe, 22 v, to the valve-chest E of an ordinary reciprocating motor or engine consisting of a cylinder, 1?, and piston, P, the function of which is to actuate a bell-hammer or striker, I, mounted upon a lever, I, which is pivoted at Q. It will be understood, therefore, that whenever the electro-magnet M is traversed by a continuous electric current the stop-cock G is closed, and the hammer I consequently remains at rest, while if the current through the electro-magnet is interrupted or diverted the stop-cock O is opened by the rowheel K is mounted upon a sleeve upon the shaft J, which carries a drum, J, upon which the cord w, which sustains the weight, is wound. A wheel, H, having ratchet-shaped teeth, is rigidly attached to the drum J. A pawl, Y, is pivoted at 3 to the lower end of the short arm of the hammenlever I, and when the hammer is operated by the motor the pawl Y, moving toand fro, engages with the successive ratchet-teeth of the wheel H, and thus pushes the same forward, causing it to rotate in the direction indicated y the arrow a distanceof one or more t stroke of the hammer. The mot r E is thus made to rewind the weight W every time it is set in operation. This is effected without interfering with the movements of the toothed wheel K by means of mechanism to be described. When the weight Wis descending the dog kengages with one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel H, and this causes the wheel K to turn with the axis J. When the weight W has been elevated to the required height by the action of the pawl Y, as hereinbefore described, a device for disengaging the pawl from the ratchetwheel H is automatically brought into action. This may be effected in various ways. In the mechanism for this purpose illustrated in the figure the cord 20, which supports the weight, carries a button, X, which, when the weight is sufficiently elevated, lifts the arm L of a three-armed lever turning upon the fulcrum Z. The arm L is thus brought against a projection, y, of the pawl Y, which is, thereby thrown out of gear with the ratchet-wheel H, and in consequence the winding of the weight is arrested. When in the performance of its function the weightW has descended a sufficient distance to render rewinding necessary a second button, X, also carried by the weight-cord w, depresses the arm L, thus causing the arm L to throw the pawl Y again into gear, when the operation of rewinding is repeated, as hereinbefore explalned. r

F is a circuit-closing device arranged to be actuated by compressed air. It consists of an elastic diaphragm, D, secured at its edges to h at each diaphragm D, and p is a fixed contact-point mounted in close proximity thereto. When the stop-cock U is opened and the motor set in action to'ring the bell compressed air is also admitted to the chamber G throughthe branch pipe g, which presses the elastic diaphragm.D outward and brings the points 19 and 19 into contact, thereby closing an independent electric circuit, which necessarily remains closed by the pressure of the air as long as the motor continues in operation. The function of this circuit-closer will be hereinafter explained.

In the diagram, Fig. 2, I have illustrated an application of the mechanism which I have described to a high way-crossing over which passengers and vehicles pass across the railroadtrack upon the same level, and it therefore becomes desirable that an efficient alarm or audible signalshould be provided to give notice of the approach of a train. The location of the crossingisindicated by the dotted lines atJ.

T T represent the railroad-track, the opposite lin'es of rails of which areelectrically separated or insulated at the'points t t at or near the crossing J, and also at the points ttat some distance away-say half a mile, more orless in the direction from which the trains approach the crossing, as indicated by the arrows, thus forming an insulated section of track between the said points. At the latter point, most distant from the crossing, a battery, B, is placed, having its opposite poles connected with the respective lines of rails of the track T T leading toward the crossing, and at the opposite end of the insulated section of track the terminal wires of the coils of the-electromagnet M, which controls the alarm apparatus, are likewise attached to the respective opposite lines of rails. Consequently a continuous current from the battery B flows through the respective rails of the track T T and the coils of the electro-magnet M. A train approaching the crossing, upon reaching the end of the insulated section of track at t t, forms a metallic connection between the opposite lines of rails, which connection continues until the entire train has passed beyond the crossing J and the insulated joints t it. During this period the current of the battery B is shortcircnited by the wheels and axles of the train, which constitute a movable circuit-closer, and the electro-magnet M is consequently demagnetized and releases its armature, thereby setting the alarm-bell B in automatic operation in the manner hereinbefore explained. At the same time the action of thecompressed air upon the diaphragm Dcloses the circuit between the contact-points p and p and brings the independent battery B into action, the current of which traverses an electro-magnet, M, and causes it to actuate a visual signal, 0, placed alongside the railway at such a point as to be visible to the engineer of the train at some distance before the train reaches the crossing J. The visual signal which is thus operated by the electro-magnet M may be of any suitable or wellknown construction, "the only essen figure; or a separate wire may be erected espe-.

cially for the purpose, although this is not in general necessary.

It will be understood from the foregoing de- I scription that upon the approach of a train to the crossing J the alarm-bell B will be set in operation as soon as the train passes beyond the insulatedjoints t it; but if by reason of any failure in the supply of compressed air the alarm fails to operate, then the circuit of the battery B will not be closed, and consequently the signal 0 will continue to indicate danger, thereby warning the engineer of the train to approach the crossing carefully, or to take such other precautions to avoid accident as may be necessary or desirable.

The reservoir V may be supplied with compressed air by any suitable means, and when once fully charged it will contain sufficient to operate the apparatus for a considerable time. One convenient method of charging the reservoir is by means of a special air pump or compressor driven by a donkey-engineand mounted upon a car, which may be transported from one signal to another upon the railroad, and connected with the reservoirs, when by ICO setting the pump in operation they can be 7 quickly charged with compressed air.

I do not desire to confine myself to the precise mode of construction of the various parts of the mechanism shownin the figures,-as these may be greatly modified without departing from the principle of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a hell or gong,a hammer or striker for sounding the same, a piston moved to and fro within a cylinder by fluidpressure for actuating said hammer, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said cylinder, which valve is automatically actuated by the movements of the piston, an independent valve for controlling the admission of the fluid under pressure to the said automatic valve, and'an electro-magnet for controlling the opening and closing of the independent valve.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to a signal-operating mechanism, mechanism independent of the signal-operating mechanism impelled by a constant force tending to alternately open and close said valve, an escapement whereby said independent mechanism is alternately released and held in check according to the position of an electromagnetic armature, and an electro-magnet whereby the position of said armature may be controlled from a distant point.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to a signaloperatiug mechanism, mechanism impelled by a constant force for opening and closing said valve, an electromagnetic armature by the movements of which said mechanism is alternately released and held in check, and mechanism for storing up or accumulating said constant force, which mechanism is impelled by said signal-operating mechanism when in action.

- 4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a signaling mechanism actuated by fluid-pressure, an electric circuit-.

closer likewise actuated by fluid-pressure, and a valve which simultaneously sets in action both the signaling mechanism and the circuitcloser by the admission thereto of fluid under pressure.

5. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of an audible signal which is automatically set in action by a moving train while traversing adeterminate section ofa railway-track by means of an electric generator, a circuit-closer actuated by the moving train, and an electro-magnet, and a visual signal situated at the entrance of said section of track, which signal is actuated or controlled by an electric current transmitted by a circuit-closer operated synchronously with the audible signal.

6. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of an audible signaling mechanism and an electric circuit-closer, both simultaneously actuated by fluid-pressure, with an independent signaling mechanism operated by an electric current controlled by said circuit-closer.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a motor and a circuit-closer both capable of being actuated by fluid-pressure, a reservoir containing fluid under pressure, and a valve whereby said fluid is admitted to the motor and to the circuit closer, thus causing them to be simultaneously actuated.

8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth,of a motor and a circuit-closer both capable of being actuated by fluid-pressure, a reservoir containing fluid under pressure, a valve whereby said fluid is admitted to the motor and the circuit-closer, thus causing them to be simultaneously actuated, and an electro-magnet capable of being actuated by an electric current from a distant point for controlling said valve.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a motor and a circuit-closer both capable of being actuated by fluid-pressure, a reservoir containing fluid under press ure, a valve whereby said fluid is admitted to the motor and the circuit-closer, thus causing them to be simultaneously actuated, an elec tro-magnet for controlling said valve, and an electric circuit and circuit-closer actuated by a moving train for controlling said electromagnet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of January, A. D. 1881.

OSCAR GASSETT.

WVitnesses:

J. A. HYLAND, MILLER O. EARL. 

